🌏 Habitat and Ecology
Bulbophyllum incisilabrum is a fascinating epiphytic orchid endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its indigenous territory is currently known to be restricted to specific primary forest regions on the island.
It is a denizen of mid-elevation montane rainforests, typically found at altitudes around 1,000 to 1,200 metres. In these environments, it thrives in the cool, dapple-shaded lower canopy and on mossy tree trunks, benefiting from high humidity and constant air movement.
🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
This member of the Orchidaceae family is prized in horticulture, particularly by specialist orchid collectors and vivarium enthusiasts, due to its bizarre floral morphology and creeping growth habit.
Habit: It is a sympodial, creeping epiphyte. It possesses a distinct rhizome that creeps along the substrate, with pseudobulbs spaced out along its length, making it well-suited for slab culture.
Pseudobulbs & Foliage: The pseudobulbs are typically distinct, often somewhat angled or ribbed, and range from olive to dark green. Each pseudobulb is topped by a single, leathery (coriaceous) leaf that is oblong to elliptic in shape.
Flowers: The inflorescence arises from the base of the pseudobulb, carrying one or occasionally a few flowers. The flowers are the main attraction, exhibiting the classic "weirdness" of the genus.
Sepals & Petals: The dorsal sepal often forms a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are usually longer, sometimes twisted, with a base colour of creamy-yellow to greenish, heavily overlaid with stripes, spots, or washes of deep purple, maroon, or brownish-red.
The Lip (Labellum): The defining feature is the highly modified lip. It is fleshy, usually a deep, saturated purple or red, and is hinged at the base, making it highly mobile and trembling in the slightest breeze to attract pollinators. As the specific name suggests, the margins of the lip are distinctively incised (jagged or cut).
🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
Taxonomy: It belongs to the mega-genus Bulbophyllum, the largest genus in the orchid family. The specific epithet incisilabrum is compounded from Latin: incisus (cut into, incised) and labrum (lip), a direct reference to the jagged margins of the flower's mobile labellum. It was described relatively recently by specialists J.J. Vermeulen and P. O'Byrne.
Ethnobotany: There are no recorded traditional medicinal uses for this specific species. In modern times, its primary cultural value is horticultural, serving as a highly desirable, strange specimen for advanced orchid growers and miniature plant collectors.
💧 Cultivation and Care
Bulbophyllum incisilabrum is an excellent subject for intermediate orchid cases, terrariums, or greenhouses, making it a classic choice for mounted culture due to its creeping nature.
Light: Requires medium shade to bright filtered light. It is shade-tolerant but needs sufficient light to trigger flowering. Direct, harsh sun will scorch the leaves.
Substrate: Needs an epiphytic setup with excellent aeration. Because it creeps, mounting on cork bark or tree fern plaques with a pad of sphagnum moss is often preferred over potting. If potted, use a shallow basket with a very open mix (medium bark, charcoal, and perlite).
Watering: Keep the substrate consistently moist but never soggy. It originates from a wet montane environment and has low drought tolerance; pseudobulbs will shrivel quickly if too dry. However, avoid stagnant conditions which lead to root rot. Mounted plants may need daily misting/watering.
Temperature: Based on its mid-elevation habitat (1000-1200m), it is an intermediate grower that appreciates a nighttime drop in temperature. It dislikes extreme heat.
Daytime: 20-26 C (68-79 F).
Night time: 15-19 C (59-66 F).
Humidity: High humidity (ideally above 70-80%) is crucial for mimicking its cloud forest home and keeping the creeping rhizome from desiccating. Good air circulation is essential alongside high humidity to prevent fungal issues.
✨ Unique Features
The defining characteristic of Bulbophyllum incisilabrum is the mobile, jagged lip. The combination of the deep purple, fleshy, trembling labellum with its incised edges, contrasted against the striped sepals, makes it a captivating example of specialized floral evolution.
🏷️ Specifications
Plant Size: 3-5 growth plants growing in pots.
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Bulbophyllum incisilabrum B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB
